SECTION X. 



Note I. Pa^e 226. 



" Shows," as the refuse of a flax-mill is usually called in this part of 

 the kingdom, when freed of dust and other impurities, form an excellent 

 thatch for houses, the peculiar qualities of which I shall mention here, 

 for the benefit of those who may not have experienced their utility for 

 that object. 



Five-and-twent}" years since, when no value was put on this useful 

 article, it was generally thrown into the river or stream, on which the 

 flax-mill w^as situated, and carried away by the next flood. Observing 

 that when shows abounded, the people about the mill used to throw 

 them on the roofs of the sheds, where they seemed completely to turn 

 the rain, I believe I was the first, or among the first, who thought of 

 applying them to the roofs of cottages. Accordingly, expert persons 

 \vere here set to work to draw and bundle them up like straw used for 

 thatch ; and the shows were put on, about twelve inches thick, either 

 by sewing them with marline, or otherwise by superinducing them on a 

 thin coat of fresh turf, as is often done with straw in Scotland. About 

 the same time, likewise, was contrived a wooden tool of about fourteen 

 inches long, but of the rudest sort, named a comb, for smoothing the 

 thatch after being fixed on and properly laid with the hand, wdiich 

 soon brought it to a fine surface. 



This covering was of course w^hite, and when first put on extremely 

 beautiful ; and although it might be supposed inflammable in its 

 nature, and therefore hazardous on account of fire, yet it turned out on 

 trial to be quite otherwise : we found as the shows lost their light 

 colour, and became brown by the weather, they obtained a skin so hard 

 and smooth as equally to resist wet and drought. Even live coals 

 might be thrown upon it without danger. In so far, then, this covering 

 has been found superior to straw, which is easily ignited, while in point 

 of durabilit}^ it greatly exceeds the latter. From any information that 

 can be obtained from the flax-dressers, respecting the roofs of their 

 sheds, it appears that the}^ will turn rain for forty years or more. Of 

 that length of duration, however, I can say nothing from my own 



